The search took place while Elliott was in Phoenix, where he was a defendant in a civil trial on a Securities and Exchange Commission complaint that he sold unregistered securities. Elliott was acquitted in that case.

Elliott said the FBI searched his properties as part of an investigation of 70 publicly traded companies, including four that Elliott had financed.

Elliott said he was a cooperating witness with the FBI.

The FBI has declined to comment on the nature of its investigation.

Get breaking news

Sign up to receive breaking news alerts
via e-mail. We'll send you a notice when the news and classifieds
appear online every week, before the print edition hits the streets.